How to Choose a Repatriation Company for Shipping a Body from the US to China

Most Families Choose Under Pressure — That Is the Problem

When a Chinese national dies in the United States, the family often makes the repatriation company decision within 48 to 72 hours of the death — grief-stricken, sleep-deprived, and operating across a 12-to-15-hour time zone gap with relatives in China. The funeral home may recommend a company. The Chinese consulate may provide a list. A friend in the diaspora community may suggest someone who "handled everything last time."

None of these referrals is inherently bad, but accepting the first option without comparison is how families end up paying $20,000 for a service that should have cost $15,000 — or worse, discovering midway through that the company has no actual airline cargo relationship and is subcontracting to a third party at markup.

What a Legitimate Repatriation Company Actually Does

A full-service repatriation company handles the logistics chain from the US funeral home to the designated funeral home at the Chinese port of entry. Specifically:

• Coordinates with the US funeral home for embalming, hermetic casket sealing, and outer air tray packaging
• Books the air cargo shipment through an airline that serves the US-to-China corridor (Air China Cargo, American Airlines TLC, United Airlines Cargo)
• Prepares and submits the China Customs sanitary declaration before departure
• Arranges pickup at the Chinese port of entry through a designated domestic funeral home
• Handles the document pouch: death certificate, embalming certificate, burial transit permit, and air waybill

Some companies offer additional services: translation of documents, coordination with the Chinese consulate, and assistance with Hukou cancellation. These extras add cost, and the family should evaluate whether they genuinely need them or can handle those steps directly.

Red Flags to Watch For

No direct airline relationship. Ask the company which airline they will use and whether they book cargo directly or through a freight broker. A company that subcontracts the cargo booking adds a layer of cost and loses direct control over the shipment. The best operators have established accounts with one or two major carriers on the route.

Bundled pricing with no breakdown. A legitimate company should provide an itemized quote separating: funeral home preparation fees, casket and air tray costs, airline cargo charges, customs documentation fees, and China-side transfer costs. A single "all-inclusive" number with no breakdown makes it impossible to compare with competitors or verify that individual charges are reasonable.

Pressure to decide immediately. Repatriation companies that push for a same-day commitment — "the next available cargo slot is tomorrow, we need your authorization now" — are exploiting the family's urgency. Ask what cargo space is actually available and whether taking 24 to 48 hours to obtain a second quote would affect the route, documents, or customs arrangements.

No China-side presence. The repatriation process does not end when the casket lands at PVG, PEK, or CAN. The remains must clear customs quarantine inspection and be transferred to a designated domestic funeral home. A company that handles only the US side and hands off at the Chinese border leaves the family coordinating customs clearance remotely — exactly the situation they hired a company to avoid.

Questions to Ask Before Signing

1. Which airline do you book cargo on, and is the booking direct or through a freight broker?
2. Do you have a specific contact at the designated funeral home at the arrival port in China? Which port and which funeral home?
3. Can you provide an itemized quote with separate line items for each cost component?
4. What is your experience with the specific port of entry closest to the family's hometown in China?
5. What happens if customs holds the shipment — who manages the resolution, and is that covered in your fee?
6. Can you provide references from Chinese families who used your service in the past 12 months?

The Alternative: Direct Coordination Through the Funeral Home

For families willing to manage the process themselves, a US funeral home with international repatriation experience can handle most of the logistics without a separate repatriation company. The funeral home books the air cargo directly (they must have Known Shipper status anyway), prepares the documentation, and the family coordinates the China-side pickup through relatives or a domestic funeral service.

This approach may avoid a separate middleman fee, but it requires someone — either the family or a trusted relative in China — to manage the customs clearance and domestic transfer. For families with a capable representative in China, this is often the more cost-effective path.

The Chinese Dies in the US — Family Emergency Guide walks through both approaches — full-service repatriation company and direct funeral home coordination — with a cost comparison and a decision checklist to help families choose the right path based on their specific situation.